Ex-MP injured after attack in Bengal

Kolkata, Nov 21 (IANS) Former CPI-M MP Ram Chandra Dome along with several party activists was injured after their protest march was attacked in West Bengal’s Birbhum district on Saturday.

The march was led by Bengal Platform of Mass Organisations (BPMO) comprising 113 Left organisations across the state.

They aim to intensify mass contact ahead of next year’s assembly polls and in support of a 15-point programme that includes protests against the “growing intolerance” in the country and “attacks on democratic rights” in the state.

The attack, in which Dome sustained injuries on his hands, came a day after CPI-M state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra, who heads the opposition in the West Bengal assembly, was heckled by people allegedly linked to the ruling Trinamool Congress.

Blaming the ruling Trinamool for the attacks, Mishra said such attacks will only intensify their movement.

“Trinamool does not have the capability to stop these jathas (protest march). They will be blown away like chaffs in the wind. The more the attacks, the more intense would be our movement,” Mishra said.

The ‘jathas’ also came under attack in West Midnapore’s Pingla.

Former CPI-M Lok Sabha member Sujon Chakraborty claimed at least 20 party activists along with Dome were injured in the twin attacks.

“BPMO jathas were attacked at Mayureswar and Pingla and 20 people were injured including ex-MP Dome,” said Chakraborty.